Hermitage Hotel · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Nashville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nashville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #108 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then earthquakes (16%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Nashville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Nashville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nashville, and Nashville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 16% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #108 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nashville’s residents live in 174 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Tennessee town has higher expected damage than 53% of U.S. towns; within the state, Nashville has more expected damage per building than 61% of Tennessee towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Nashville has higher expected damage per building than 51% (#206 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $262M, is the 25th largest of those 400.
Nashville and its neighbors
Nashville is 8th of the 11 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Vergne | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Brentwood | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 301 |
| Mount Juliet | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| Coopertown | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Rural Hill | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Green Hill | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Ashland City | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Nashville | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Goodlettsville | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Hendersonville | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 213 |
| Millersville | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Nashville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Nashville
Is Nashville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nashville has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #108 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Nashville in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map.
How much is flood insurance in Nashville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nashville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Nashville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Nashville’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nashville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nashville’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.